Explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) activities seek to reduce the risk of injury from explosive ordnance by raising awareness of women, girls, boys and men in accordance with their different vulnerabilities, roles and needs, and promoting behavioural change (IMAS 12.10).
In recent years, exceptionally high numbers of civilian casualties from explosive ordnance have been recorded (source: 2021 Landmine Monitor). The delivery of effective EORE interventions to affected populations – in addition to clearance and other risk reduction programmes – is a primary means of preventing injuries and saving lives.
In order to contribute to enhancing the protection of civilians from the threats caused by explosive ordnance, and in line with its multi-year strategy, in 2019 the GICHD stepped up its EORE efforts in support of partners across the mine action and wider humanitarian and protection sectors.
What does the GICHD do in EORE?
The GICHD follows a multi-pronged approach that entails global, regional and country-specific EORE advice, technical assistance, exchange of good practices and research.
Support to partners and key stakeholders is further strengthened through the mainstreaming of EORE into the Centre’s three lines of service: field support focused on capacity development and advice, multilateral work focused on norms and standards, and research and development focused on innovative solutions.
What does this mean concretely?
At global level, the Centre contributes to efforts to strengthen the profile of EORE, improve the delivery of effective EORE, respond to current and new challenges, foster new partnerships and encourage innovation.
This is partly achieved through the GICHD’s role as secretariat and core member of the EORE Advisory Group, convention-related support (APMBC and CCM) and the production of sector-wide resources for practitioners. Some recent examples include:
- A Review of ‘New Technologies and Methodologies for EORE in Challenging Contexts’
- A working paper on ‘Measuring the Results of EORE’
- An e-learning module for anyone interested in EORE: ‘Introduction to EORE Essentials’
At regional and bilateral level, the GICHD provides EORE-specific support directly to its partners or through other channels such as within the framework of strategic planning processes, the drafting and/or revision of international and national standards, the facilitation of exchange of good practices under the umbrella of its regional cooperation programmes and the mainstreaming of gender, diversity and inclusion considerations.
For more resources on EORE, click here.